Fumigator



April 18, 1939. B. M BANCROFT FUMIGATOR Filed May 26, 1936 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATE FUMIGATOR Benjamin M. Bancroft, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 26,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to devices for making, or causing to be made, gases, fumes or odors and disseminating the same. Such devices are used. commonly to disseminate gases and fumes for disinfecting purposes and are usually of such construction as to require one especially experienced in the art to operate. Also, the disinfecting compounds used for the purpose are of such a nature or are in such a state as to require 10 one experienced in handling them to avoid unsatisfactory results.

Uusually disinfecting and cleaning gases and fumes are produced by heating or burning a prepared compound of suitable chamicals. The gases or fumes are dispersed by means of fans; or the fumes or gases may be liberated in. a closed room. Some of the chemicals are dangerous if handled by inexperienced operators when used in the form in which they are ordinarily procured.

Again, it may be desired to disseminate perfume and fragrant odors or odors to interfere with and counteract offensive odors in a room. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device by means of which fumes, gases or odors may be produced and disseminated by simple methods of operation and by an inexperienced operator; another object is to provide means whereby a selected fume or odor may be produced. A still further object is to provide a small, inexpensive device which may be put into operation quickly and which is so constructed that it is not necessary to superintend its operation while in use, and to provide a device for the purpose which is safe and harmless in the hands of inexperienced operators.

To accomplish these various objects and to provide against harm coming from the use of dangerous chemicals, the device in which the present invention is embodied is so constructed that the desired chemicals or compounds may be introduced in prepared form and quantity. In the following specifications, such a device is disclosed in which the prepared chemicals may be burned, incinerated or melted by heat generated by electricity and the desiredfumes or odors disseminated. The various chemicals or compounds may be prepared and compressed intothe desired form of tablet containing exact amounts for the purpose so that an operator need but insert a tablet and close the device to put it into operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawing when considered in connection with 55 the following specification.

1936, Serial No. 81,825

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view of my S PATENT OFFICE device in elevation, showing the complete device in its outward appearance and in fully closed position,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the vertical axial line as 2-2 of Fig. 4,

the cap not closed down to show the break in the electric circuit,

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the arrangement of the case tubes and fume tube,

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the relative distribution of the contactors,

Fig. 5 is a detached indicate the manner by fragmentary drawing to which the fume tube may be inserted into the tablet receptacle or bowl, and Fig. 6 is a reverse plan View of the complete electric heating unit showing the arrangement of the contacts.

The device embodying my invention as illustrated in its present form consists of a base I upon which is superimposed a having a central chamber 2.

cylindrical body The walls of the body consist of an outer tube case 3 and an inner tube lining 4 somewhat smaller in diameter than the outer tube case 3. outer tube case 3 and preferably filled with s good heat insulating The space between the the inner tube lining 4 is oft asbestos fiber or other material, to prevent the escape of heat through the side Walls. Upon the base I and concentrically positioned, is an insulating bottom 5 composed'preferably of a plate of hard asbestos or fiber or other suitable heat resisting material upon which the tube lining 4 rests and to which the tube case as by screws 6 and 6. to the base i by screws 3 is secured, The bottom 5 is secured l and l and nuts 8 and 8 imbedded in the bottom 5.

Through the bottom of contactors 9, l and 9 and I9, are seen in are arranged a plurality II, in Fig. 4, two of which Fig. 2. These contactors are spaced and positioned some distance from, the

center of the bottom bottom 5 and terminat I, one of which,

5 and extend through the e in chambers in the base I2, is shown in Fig. 2. Upon their lower ends are adjustable nuts, one of which I5 is shown in Fig. 2, movement of the contactors which limit the vertical by resting against the bottom 5. Centrally positioned in the bottom 5,

is a like contactor tom 5 and terminating I8 extending through the botin the chamber IS in the base I, and having an adjustable nut on its lower end. In the chamber spring l2 which is held in place by the plug l2" and which bears again I2 is. a compression st the nut l5 thus urging the contactor 9 upward until the nut I5 rests against the bottom 5. In like manner the compression spring I9 held in place by the plug IS" in the chamber l9 bears against the nut 2|] and urges the contactor I8 upward until the nut 20 rests against the bottom 5, and the other con.- tactors are arranged in like manner, each having a spring and adjustable nut.

The electrical heating unit 2| is made in the usual manner well known to those skilled in this art, by the required amount of electrically resistant wire coiled within insulating material and contained within a case 22 and having one end of its electrically resistant wire attached to a central contact 23, Fig. 6, and the other end attached to an annular ring contact 24. The electrical heating unit 2| is suitably proportioned to enter loosely within the chamber 2 and rest upon the contactors 9, It, H and I8, the annular ring contact 24 resting upon the spaced contactors 9, l0 and H and the central contact 23 in alignment with the central contactor 18. When properly adjusted by means of the nut 2|], the central contactor does not extend upwardly proportionately to the other spaced contactors 9, ill and I! when the associated springs are at their fullest extension and the adjustable nuts rest against the bottom 5. This arrangement allows a gap or break between the central contactor i8 and the central contact 23, of the heating unit 2! when there is no pressure upon the heating unit 2'! to bear it down other than gravity, but when pressure is applied to the heating unit 2! and it is pressed downward against the upward urge of the springs, the springs will yield and the contactors 9, l0 and I I will be forced downward until the central contactor |8 comes into contact with the central contact 23 of the heating unit. The springs are then further compressed, as will be explained hereinafter. A lead wire 25 is attached to the contactor I8 and another opposite pole lead wire 26 is attached to one of the spaced contactors, as 9, supplying electrical energy from a suitable source of supply. When the springs are compressed as described above and the contactor 9 is in contact with the annular ring contact 24 and the central contactor I8 is in con,- tact with the central contact 23 of the heating unit, an electrical circuit is completed through the heating element of the heating unit.

Provision is made to compress the springs and force the heating unit downward until electrical circuit is made and further until the springs are well compressed and are in active tension, in the followin manner: Superimposed upon the heating unit 2| is a metal bowl 2'! made to receive a combustible tablet 28, hereinafter more fully described. Within the bowl 2! and normally resting upon the tablet 28 is the end of the fume tube 29 having an annular ring 39 slightly larger in diameter than the tube 29. The fume tube 29 is supported in a removable cap 3| and adjustably held by a setscrew 32. The cap is held in position and seated upon the body of the fumigator by means of hooks 33 and 34. To cover the ends of the outer tube case 3 and the inner tube lining 4 and prevent the escape of the insulating material between the inner and outer tubes and provide a suitable cover for the tubes is an annular ring cover 35.

When a tablet 28 is placed in the bowl 21, the end of the fume tube 29 entered in the bowl 2? and the fume tube 29 and cap 3| positioned as shown in Fig. 2, the contactors 9, IO, N and I8 are pressed downward until the electrical circuit is made through the electrical heating unit 2| as described above. The thickness of the tablet 28 determines the movement of the parts in completing the electrical circuit to the heating element 2|. The cap 3| is held down by means of hooks 33 and 34, engaging studs 36 and 31.

In Fig. 2 the contactors are shown in their upper position with the adjustable nuts against the bottom 5. The electrical heating unit is in position and a tablet 23 in the bowl 21. The cap 3| and fume tube 29 have not been pressed down, thus there is a gap or break shown between the central contactor and the central contact 23. If the cap 3| and the fuse tube 29 are pressed downward to closed position all contactors will be in contact with the contacts of the electrical heating unit and the electrical heating unit 2| will generate heat and reduce the tablet 28 by incineration. As incineration takes place the tablet 28 will be slowly reduced to ashes and thus in thickness and volume and the springs and the contactors 9, I0, II and l8 will urge the electrical heating unit 2| and the bowl 2'7 upward as the tablet 28 offers less resistance and until the tablet 28 is reduced to a degree when the central contactor |8 reaches its upward limit of movement. When the contactor it has reached its limit of upward movement and the other contactors 9, H! and II are still urging the heating unit 2| upward, a gap will occur between the contactor i8 and the contact 23, as shown in Fig. 2, and the electrical circuit through the electrical heating unit 2| will be broken. The electrical heating unit 2| will then cease to function and cool off. When the tablet has been incinerated, an operator may remove the cap 3|, the fume tube 29 together with the bowl 221 containing the remaining ash from the tablet 28.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated the manner in which the fuse tube 29 is removed from the bowl 21. The annular ring 39 is slightly larger in diameter than the tube 29 and also slightly larger in diameter than the mouth of the bowl 21. By tilting the tube 29 at an angle and slightly compressing the rim of the bowl 2?, the annular ring 39 may be made to enter the bowl. side the bowl the annular ring will not leave the bowl when held in its normal position and alignment, so that when the tube is withdrawn the bowl will remain in position on the end of the tube.

While the combusion of the tablet is taking place, the resulting fumes, gases or odors escape into the chamber 2 and thence through perforations 29' into the fume tube 29 and out of its upper end into the open air. The opening 38 in the cap 3| in which the fume tube 29 is seated is provided with a widened mouth, and the fume tube 29 at no time extends quite to the top of the cap 3|, thus providing that should the tube 29 be hot it is not easily contacted by the hands of the operator.

To facilitate rapid removal of the gases, fumes or odors produced in the chamber, air circulation is provided by means of openings 49, 4| and 42 through the base and the bottom 5 and communicating with the chamber 2. To provide that air may enter freely, the base is supported on legs 43, 44 and 45. g

The tablets referred to, and for purposes of description and illustration indicated as 28, are

Once inprepared chemical compounds containing the materials necessary for slow combustion and, in process of combustion, liberating the desired gases, fumes or odors. The formulas for the chemical compounds employed by me in the manufacture of these tablets are not a part of the present invention, but the tablets themselves when used as described in the operation of the present device form a part of the present invention. So far as the composition of the tablets is concerned in the present invention, the essential characteristics are a suitable slow burning element and a suitable gas, fume or odor producing element. It is not necessary to disclose herein the various elements I employ to produce the desired effects, but to make the operation of the device intelligible to one skilled in this art it is sufiicient to suggest a compound of charcoal and the salt of hartshorn or charcoal and camphor gum, the charcoal allowing of slow combustion and the camphor gum producing an odoriferous gas.

The uses to which the present invention may be applied and its simplicity of operation and convenience will be apparent to one skilled in this art, also the various means employed to guard against accident from burning, electric shock and unnecessary wear and tear of the apparatus. The interior heated parts are heat insulated to keep the outside comparatively cool; the electric parts are inaccessible to the hands of an operator and, when the tablet is burned out, the electric circuit is broken so that the device may be put in operation and left Without further attention without fear of undesired consequences. The parts are substantial and not easily injured. The electrical heating unit may be left loose within the chamber and removed by turning the device upside down. The residual ashes may be removed when the fume tube and bowl are withdrawn. It is the intention that the device embodying my invention be used to scent a room, to counteract undesirable odors in a room or to release disinfectants.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A new article of manufacture comprising in combination, a case, a base, an electric heating unit, an electric circuit, contactors disposed in said base and forming a part of said circuit, a cap as a closure for said case, a tube in said cap arranged to provide for the escape of fumes, a bowl at the base of said tube, a combustible tablet in said bowl, and means including said tablet for holding said contactors in operable position.

BENJAMIN M. BANCROFT. 

